Mask



Feb. 28, 1950 1.. J. FITZSIMMONS 2,493,563

MASK

Filed Sept. 2, 1947 Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE4 Claims.

This invention relates to masks and has more particular reference tomasks suitable for use by surgeons, physicians, dentists, beautyoperators and the like, for their own protection as well as that of thepatient or other person undergoing treatment.

Masks of this nature have been suggested in the past but have invariablybeen objectionable mainly because their manner of attachment to the faceof the wearer rendered them either uncomfortable or highly inconvenientto apply.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of a masksuitable for use by surgeons, dentists, beauty operators and the like,which is relatively simple in construction and convenient to use, andwhich in addition will assure comfort to the wearer.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a mask ofthe character described which may be securely and comfortably worn bysurgeons, dentists, beauty operators and the like, much in the samemanner as spectacles are worn.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of amask embodying a shield of transparent materialwhich is connected to aframe for the support of the shield over the face of the person Wearingthe mask in a novel manner, assuring space for the nose of the user soas to eliminate the necessity for molding the shield to the profile ofthe face.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of thephysical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the bestmode so far devised for the practical application of the principlesthereof, and in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mask of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the mask as shown in Figure 1 andillustrating its manner of use;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the shield is made;

Figure 4 is a view of the mask looking down on top of the same; and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken through Figure 1 along theplane of the line 5-5.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in whichlike numerals indicate like parts, the numeral Ill generally designatesthe mask of this invention. The mask comprises a frame generallydesignated H, and a shield l2. The frame is preferably made oflight-weight metal and includes a bow piece [3 of a length to span thebrow of a person wearing the mask, and temple pieces l4 connected to theouter extremities of downwardly depending leg portions l5 at theopposite ends of the bow piece. The temple pieces are preferablyattached to the legs of the bow piece with a conventional hingestructure indicated at [6.

As seen in Figure 5, the bow piece I3 is substantially channel-shaped incross section, having opposite flanges l1 bent back upon themselves withthe channel opening to the underside of the bow piece. These flangesreceive between them the upper edge portion of the shield l2, and thelatter is securely anchored to the bow by clinching the flanges togetheras at IE or, if desired, by cementing the shield in place between theflanges.

The bow piece I3 is preferably bowed outwardly as indicated in Figures 2and 4 so as to roughly correspond to the shape of the forehead or browof a person wearing the mask, and because of its bow-shape, likewiseholds the shield [2 in an outwardly bowed condition.

The shield l 2 is of a size to cover substantially the entire face ofthe user and is preferably made of thin transparent material such asplastic, Celluloid or any similar material having a degree of resiliencyor flexibility. The mask is out from a blank indicated at 20 in Figure3, and the upper portion of the blank is notched as at 2| to provide acentral tongue 22 between the notches and opposite side strips 23. Thenotches 2| are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacin ofthe human eyes and provide eye openings 24 when the blank is secured inplace on the bow piece l3.

The strips 23 are shaped to fit the curve of the bow piece adjacent tothe downwardly depending leg portions l5 thereof so that portions alongthe sides of the strips are received between the flanges of the legs l5while the upper extremities of the strips are received between theflanges adjacent to the junctions between the bow piece and itsdownwardly depending leg portions.

The central tongue 22 of the blank is longer than the strips 23 and itsouter end is secured between the flanges of the bow piece at themidportion thereof so that the excess length of the tongue causes thesame to buckle intermediate its length as shown in Figure 2. Whensecured in position, therefore, the outer portion of the tongue is heldby the bow piece in a more or less downwardly depending condition whilethe inner portion of the tongue adjacent to its connection with the bodyof the blank is caused to lie nearly horizontally as at 25; thedeformation of the tongue thereby reacting on the central portion of thebody of the shield to bow the same outwardly and thereby provideclearance for the nose of the person wearingthe mask,

It is importantto'notesthat the-"medialportion 26 of the tongue 22 inthe deformed position of the tongue provides a ledge or rest which is emgageable with the nose of a person wearing the mask adjacent to thebridge of the nose and which ledge cooperates with the templeopiecesI4v-to. comfortably support the mask on the face of the wearer.

It is also important to note that the opposite side edges of thetongue-.22 are tapered so as to converge toward the inner extremity ofthe tongue to'define-a narrow portion 28 intermediate 'the length ofthetongue: narrow' portion renders the tongue'i-easily' bendable todefine the" ledge 2 S and it will be apparent that the location-- of theledge may be accurately predeterminedat the'time-the shield is blankedout merely: by shiftinggthe'narrow portion 28 either toward the inner orouter extremity of the-tongue.

As clearlygshown in Figure-2, the ledge-26 onthetongue serves tohold-thebow piece I 3"atan elevatiorr'adjacent to onslightly abovetheline of-the brows and'inasmuch as :the' bow piece'is bowedoutwardlytoclearthe b'row', it 'will' be apparent that themask-of thisinventionmaybe" worn'by personshaving normal eyesight as well as those requiringspectacles; asth'e ordinary spec-- tacles' will not interfere withproper use of the mask:

The provision of the'ledge' orbridgeifiialong' with the temple piecesW'enables the: mask of; this invention to be worn in the same manner"length to span the brow of a person wearing" the mask andbowed'outwardlyto substantially correspond to the shape of the brow; down wardl'ydepending leg portions on the opposite" extremities of the bow'piece,and temple'pieces connected to said downwardly depending leg portionsofsaid bow piece to aid insupporting the mask on the head ot th'ewearer; ashield' having its. upper edge" portions secured to saidl bowpiece and suspend'edrthereirom :to cover the:

nose and mouth'of'a person wearing the'mask; and offset meanssintegralwith 1 said; shield" and. centrally thereof beneath the bow piece:defining a ledge adapted-t'o'engage-the. bridge of the;

nose of-the wearer to hold the body ofthe-i shield spaced from the endof the wearerisr'nose: and: adaptedto-cooperate with said-temple piecestosupport themask on the head of 'thewearer;

2. A mask of' the character: described com prising: aframe including; abow piece oi' alengthto span the brow of a person wearing the mask, andtemplepieces connected; to the opposite. end portions :of i said howpieceadapted tobeengaged over the ears ofapersonl-wearings the mask toaid in supporting the mask in position on the head of the wearer; arelatively transparent shield of a size to substantially cover thefaceeot thewearer; connections between opposite side portions of theshield and said bow piece adjacent to the temple pieces thereon by whichthe shield is suspended from said bow piece; another connection betweensaid Number Name Date-- 128934 7 Jordanluel w Marl 25; 1919 1,348,819Miller Aug}: 3, 1920 2,28%,181'. Clarke: l Apr: 28; 1942 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 84,848 Switzerland:: Decl 16ol919 4233,083Great-Britain.- Aug,- 9, 1935" GreattBritaim Oct, 20; 1939 bow piece anda central portion of the shield therebeneathbyf which said centralportion of the shield reacts against the body of the shieldto-rhold:=thezssamezbowed outwardly to clear the nose ofa person wearingthe mask; and a ledge 0n said'c'entral portion. of the shield adjacentto its connection with the bow piece enga eable witli'the nose of a-'-person" wearing the mask to cooperate with the templepieces in'supporting the-mask place:

3. Themasksetforth'in claim '2" further char-- acterized' by theprovision of apertures in the shield beneath the bow piece andatopposite sides-pf said ledge affordingunobstructedwision f or personswearing the mask.

4. A mask of the" character" described comprising? a framedncIudi-ng abow piece" of a length-rte span' the'brow' of a" person wearingthe-mask'-; andtemple--'-pieces connected to-the opposite end portionsof the' bow piece" and" adapted to pass-over the ears 'ofa personwearin'g the-m-ask' to-aid insupporting the same inpositiononthe'head ofthewearer; a shieldof' relatively light transparent materialhaving; a-

degree' of: flxibilityandof a si'ze to substantially cover the face -ofa" person wearing the' mask; said" shield" having its upperedge'portion:

notched F to provide spaced eye' openings and to form'- a tonguebetweerrsaid notches; connections between the opposite side portionsofthe shield bounding said 'not'ches and said bow piece by which theshield is su-spended irom' the-bow piece; a connectionbetween the outerend portion ot 'said tongue and the' bowpiece bywhich the-tongue is'heldirr a -fl'exed condition with its outer portion substantially uprightand its inner portion protecting. at an- I outward angle thereto" andreacting uponthe central portion of the body of the mask with which itconnects to hold* th'ea same bowed" outwardly sufiicient to clear-' theend of thenose of' a person wearing themask; and a ledge on-said' tongueat the" junctionbetween said upright andoutwardly" projecting-portionsthereof to act I as a nose-rest engageab'le-iwith the 1 noseof apersonwearing the: mask. to thus cooperate with theten-ipl emisses-imsupporting-the mask on the faee of the user.

LESLIE. JAMIES FITZSfl/IMONS:

REFERENGES' CITED? The following'ref erence's are. of record in. thefile of=- patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS:

